The ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly violating national security has taken a new turn after the Federal Government attorney accused members of his family of using the media as a weapon and trying to sway public opinion against the judiciary regarding his detention and bail terms.
Lead prosecuting attorney Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court during the resumed hearing on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja that the former governor’s relatives had frequently used social media and press appearances to portray the prosecution and security agencies as persecuting the defendant.
One of El-Rufai’s wives allegedly showed up at the ICPC facility on May 15 with cameramen and started livestreaming allegations that her husband was being refused access to family members and food, according to the prosecution.
Aladedoye further said that security personnel had to transfer the former governor to DSS custody in order to prevent more controversy after a politician named Timi Frank issued statements implying that he would suffer harm while in detention.
The prosecution claims that when members of the defendant’s family, including two wives and a kid, allegedly went to the DSS headquarters with journalists and openly criticised the court’s bail requirements, the situation worsened.
Aladedoye contended that instead of going via the court system, the family turned to media campaigns that could erode public trust in the legal system.
Therefore, the prosecution insisted that the case before the court was a criminal prosecution rather than a political persecution and asked the court to warn the defendant and his family against further public insults.
In response, the defence attorney stated that he was not aware of the accusations made by the prosecution and insisted that the defendant should not be held accountable for remarks made outside of court.
However, he pointed out that the defence will counsel family members and supporters to use caution.
In response, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik said she doesn’t pay attention to social media narratives and emphasised that topics that are trending online should stay outside of court proceedings. The trial was then ordered to proceed by the judge.
A silver flash drive and a certificate of compliance were tendered by the prosecution and admitted as Exhibits B and B1, respectively, when the proceedings later began.
The court then proceeded to preview the contents of the flash drive purportedly containing an interview that El-Rufai had given to Arise News Television.